Public schools in Oakland are looking for major kitchen remodeling with a measure on the Nov. 6 ballot.

If approved, Measure J would authorize the Oakland Unified School District to issue as much as $475 million in bonds to improve school facilities.

Along with seismic upgrades and lead-paint removal, the bonds could help underwrite a planned overhaul of school kitchens in the district, including building a new central kitchen in West Oakland. It's part of an effort to improve the food the district serves to students, 70 percent of whom are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

Oakland has made strides toward serving healthier and fresher food in recent years. For instance, the district now buys more fresh fruits and vegetables from within 250 miles of Oakland. There are salad bars at 67 schools.

But it's infrastructure, not ingredients, that has become the biggest barrier to making lunches healthier and tastier. Many schools have antiquated kitchens - if they have a kitchen at all.

"It's a very attractive museum of kitchen dinosaurs," said Zenobia Barlow, executive director of the Center for Ecoliteracy, a nonprofit advocacy group.

The facilities limit what food can be served.

"A lot of what is served is processed and prepackaged and frozen," said Ruth Woodruff, who has a first-grader and a fourth-grader attending Chabot Elementary School. "It gets unwrapped and put on trays and heated."

Some schools, like Piedmont Avenue Elementary, don't even have a kitchen. Meals there are reheated in the corner of a multipurpose room.

"That's not sufficient for them to be able to provide appetizing meals," said Jody London, president of the school board, who is running for re-election. "It's the difference between cooking on a hotplate and cooking on a stove."

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Oakland Measure J to upgrade school kitchens

Its rare that a home remodeling project stays on schedule, but its more important for it to stay on budget. Most homeowners do not have an accurate sense of the costs associated with remodeling, which makes it hard to accurately create and stick to a budget.

Ac cording to a survey conducted by HomeAdvisors, a unit of IAC, one in three homeowners said they arent aware of the price of remodeling projects, although 75% want to undertake a home improvement project next year. Of the people looking to improve their home, half expressed interest in general upgrades like fresh paint and carpet while more than quarter are interested in remodeling their kitchen.

No matter the size of your project, there are tools and strategies to ensure you dont get taken to the cleaners.

You need to find the right pro at the right time, and for the right price, says Chris Terrill, chief executive officer of HomeAdvisors. If you have a sense of the price charged youll feel better about the service professional.

HomeAdvisor recently launched Cost Guide, an online tool that provides users with the cost of remodeling projects on both the national and local level. The prices for repairs and remodeling come from other homeowners so they know what a contractor in their neighborhood is charging. The free tool has more than 600,000 cost profiles covering 280 project categories.

While knowing the cost of a service is important, its just an imperative to research the labor and work required to execute the project. For instance, if you are looking to get a new HVAC system, its important to know the labor involved. Does it normally take an hour to install one or is it an all-day affair? Does it require new parts or can you use your existing hardware? By having the knowledge youll be a more savvy and informed homeowner when interviewing prospective contractors, says Amy Matthews, host of DIY Network's Sweat Equity and HomeAdvisors home improvement expert.

Information is power, says Matthews. You want to be savvy on the mechanics in your home.

The number of estimates to complete the project is also important for staying on budget. You wouldnt think twice about getting a second opinion if your health was on the line, and the same diligence should be applied to your home. If youre doing a low-cost project, Terrill suggests getting two or three estimates. For more expensive remodeling jobs, he suggests getting at least four.

By getting all the estimates youre not only getting a price range but youre also doing the work to find a contractor youll gel with. You want to deal with people that have a good bedside manner, says Matthews. They should be able to take your idea to the next level.

Once youve zeroed in on a contractor you want to hire, the next step is to check references and their past work. If youre hiring a landscaper, Matthews suggests talking to past clients and driving by their homes to see the work to make sure it is still nice a year or so later.

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How to Keep Your Remodeling Job in Check

Happy 2013! The Kitchen Magic $15,000 Giveaway launched October 1, will bring an exciting start to the new year for one lucky winner.

Nazareth, PA (PRWEB) October 10, 2012

Happy 2013! The $15,000 2013 Kitchen Magic Giveaway will be promoted at Kitchen Magic mall locations, various home shows and community events throughout Kitchen Magics service area in the Northeast as well as at the Kitchen Magic showroom and headquarters in Nazareth, PA. The giveaway will also be made available via various online vehicles during the promotion period Entrants are invited to enter The Happy 2013! $15,000 Kitchen and Bath Giveaway from October 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Entries may be submitted at any of the aforementioned venues as well as via mail or online.

To enter after October 1, 2012 and for complete methods of entry and rules for the Happy 2013! The Kitchen Magic $15,000 Giveaway, visit http://www.kitchenmagic.com/2013-new-year-kitchen-giveaway.

What better way to ring in a Happy New Year for your family than winning a brand new kitchen? said Kitchen Magic VP of Marketing, Renate Fleck.

Kitchen Magic was founded in Allentown, PA in 1979 by Jost and Reine Fleck. Today Kitchen Magic continues to be family owned and operated, now in the second generation, and is the largest specialty refacing, custom cabinet, and kitchen and bath remodeling company in the Northeast, NJ, PA, CT, MA, NH, DE & RI. Kitchen Magics headquarters and manufacturing operations are located in Nazareth, PA and the Kitchen Magic family is comprised of over two hundred and fifty employees.

Kitchen Magic provides free in home consultation services to help homeowners sift through the overwhelming choices and options involved in their remodeling project. Kitchen Magic experts present the best advice and solution for each individual homeowner free and without obligation.

For more information on Kitchen Magic call 800-237-0799

Renate Fleck KITCHEN MAGIC, INC. (732) 821-2852 Email Information

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Happy 2013! Kitchen Magic's $15,000 New Year's Kitchen Giveaway offers thousands of homeowners a chance to win

NAZARETH, Pa., Oct. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Kitchen Magic, the Northeast's largest kitchen cabinet refacing and remodeling company, launched 'Happy 2013!The Kitchen Magic $15,000 Giveaway'on October 1, 2012. The Grand Prize will be a $15,000 kitchen remodel. Alternately, the winner will also have the option to choose any products and services in the Kitchen Magic array of products and services bath remodeling and closet systems. To celebrate the New Year, the lucky winner will be drawn on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at the Kitchen Magic headquarters in Nazareth, PA.

'Happy 2013! The $15,000 Kitchen Magic Giveaway' will be promoted at Kitchen Magic mall locations, various home shows and community events throughout Kitchen Magic's service area in the Northeast as well as at the Kitchen Magic showroom and headquarters in Nazareth, PA.The giveaway will also be made available via various online vehicles during the promotion period. Entrants are invited to enter 'The Happy 2013! $15,000. Kitchen and Bath Giveaway' from October 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Entries may be submitted at any of the aforementioned venues as well as via mail or online.

To enter after October 1, 2012 and for complete methods of entry and rules for the 'Happy 2013! The Kitchen Magic $15,000 Giveaway', visit http://www.kitchenmagic.com/2013-new-year-kitchen-giveaway.

"What better way to ring in a Happy New Year for your family than winning a brand new kitchen?" said Kitchen Magic VP of Marketing, Renate Fleck.

Kitchen Magic was founded in Allentown, PA in 1979 by Jost and Reine Fleck. Today Kitchen Magic continues to be family owned and operated, now in the second generation, and is the largest specialty refacing, custom cabinet, and kitchen and bath remodeling company in the Northeast, NJ, PA, CT, MA, NH, DE & RI. Kitchen Magic's headquarters and manufacturing operations are located in Nazareth, PA and the 'Kitchen Magic family' is comprised of over two hundred and fifty employees.

Kitchen Magic provides free in home consultation services to help homeowners sift through the overwhelming choices and options involved in their remodeling project. Kitchen Magic experts present the best advice and solution for each individual homeowner free and without obligation.

For more information on Kitchen Magic, visitwww.kitchenmagic.com or call 800-237-0799.

Continued here:
Kitchen Magic $15,000 New Year's Kitchen Giveaway Offers Homeowners a Chance to Win

Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

Public schools in Oakland are looking for major kitchen remodeling with a measure on the November ballot.

If approved,Measure Jwould authorize theOakland Unified School Districtto issue up $475 million in bonds to improve school facilities.

Along with seismic upgrades and lead-paint removal, the bonds could help underwrite a planned overhaul of kitchen facilities in the district, including building a new central kitchen in West Oakland. Its part of an ongoing effort to improve the food the district serves to students, some 70 percent of whom are eligible for free or reduced-priced meals.

Oakland has made strides toward serving healthier and fresher food in recent years. For instance, the district now buys more fresh fruits and vegetables from within 250 miles of Oakland. There are salad bars at 67 schools.

But its infrastructure, not ingredients, thats become the biggest barrier to making lunches healthier and tastier. Many schools have antiquated kitchens if they have a kitchen at all.

Its a very attractive museum of kitchen dinosaurs, said Zenobia Barlow, executive director of theCenter for Ecoliteracy, a nonprofit advocacy group.

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The facilities limit what food can be served.

A lot of what is served is processed and prepackaged and frozen, said Ruth Woodruff, who has a first-grader and a fourth-grader attendingChabot Elementary School. It gets unwrapped and put on trays and heated.

View original post here:
Oakland schools seek kitchen upgrades with ballot measure

Kitchen Remodeler Serving Carlsbad, CA Publishes How to Choose the Best Home Remodeler for Your Next Project Critical Questions to Ask Before You Hire

Calsbad, CA (PRWEB) October 07, 2012

Undertaking a remodeling project for the home is a rewarding but often a challenging adventure, says Rick Guedes, president of Guedes Construction. Whether people are looking to add a few updates to an older kitchen or completely renovate the master bedroom, success with remodeling begins long before the first plan is drawn and depends entirely on what homeowners do before the project even starts, maintains Guedes.

Taking the time to find the right contractor for the job will ensure a project is a success from beginning to end, continued Guedes. Having clear expectations and a good understanding of what it is they want in the finished project will help people choose the best services for both their needs and budget. Thats why Guedes decided to publish a guide to help homeowners looking to remodel, said Guedes.

The guide - How to Choose the Best Home Remodeler for Your Next Project outlines the 5 pieces of information critical to making the best decision. The report includes specific questions to ask the potential home remodeler and how to look for red flags which might mean trouble later on.

Most licensed contractors are honest, hardworking and competent and each brings their own style, level of knowledge and commitment to the job. Nevertheless, it is ultimately the homeowners responsibility to choose a remodeling team that they are comfortable with and who they feel will make the project a success, said Guedes.

If homeowners select the right contractor, their experience can be easy, uncomplicated and a total success. The home is most likely one of everyones most valuable assets. Homeowners need to make sure they enlist a professional who is not only qualified, but has the right skill set to successfully lead them in one of the most exciting experiences a homeowner can have.

About Guedes Construction

Established in 1999, Guedes Construction specializes in residential remodeling, room additions, window replacement, water damage cleanup, cracked slab repair and complete home renovations. We are proud to be family owned and operated. As a full service general contractor, Guedes Construction has earned the reputation for quality, honesty and affordability. It is our goal to take the fear out of remodeling your home, no matter the size of your home improvement project. To download a copy of their free report How to Choose the Best Home Remodeler for Your Next Project people are encouraged to call 760-295-3036 or visit the company website at http://www.GuedesConstruction.com

Rick Guedes Guedes Construction 760-295-3036 Email Information

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Kitchen Remodel Carlsbad – Home Remodeling Company, Guedes Construction Publishes Consumer Protection Guide for ...

Photo by: Peter Galvin

Contractors are seeing business improve.

Glenn Bridges can tell that the market for home remodeling is picking up when he's hanging cabinets or laying a floor in a customer's house, a next-door neighbor is bound to knock on the door and ask if he's available for another project.

They'll look at his handiwork and then say, "we have something we're interested in doing," Bridges says. "It's quite uplifting."

The collapse of the housing market decimated business for contractors like Bridges, most of whom are small businesses with just a handful of employees. But many are seeing business improve as home sales slowly recover and homeowners who had put off projects during the recession are feeling better about the economy. Still, the improvement is gradual and projects aren't typically as lucrative as they were back when homeowners were able borrow against a large amount of equity in their houses.

Bridges was so optimistic about the remodeling market that in February that he restarted the contracting business he was forced to shut down in 2007. When he closed, he had to lay off his three full-time workers. But at the start of 2012, things began to change.

"I had people that needed work done and all in one weekend they said to me, `why don't you help me ... why don't you get active again?"' says Bridges, owner of Eagle Ridge Contractor Services in Naples, Fla. He had spent the intervening years working on projects with other business owners.

(Read more: Why More Millennials Go Part Time for Full Time Pay)

'More optimism'

He's worked steadily since February, installing new kitchens and bathrooms that range from $10,000 to $25,000, depending on the size of the room and the quality of the cabinets and appliances. He hired one full-time worker when he started his business again and says he may take on as many as three more if business is good enough. And he's optimistic that it will be, because he's getting more requests for bids on projects. "Where I was pricing one or two (projects) a month, I might now price five or six a month. And I think I'm not unusual for our market, there's more optimism."

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Home Remodeling Resurgence Lifts Contractors' Sales

The premiere kitchen and bath remodeling company in Colorado marks upcoming trends from homeowners on design, layout, cabinets, and accessories.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) October 04, 2012

A nationwide Houzz.com survey found that 57 percent of homeowners plan to remodel in the next two years as they put more emphasis on quality of life at home; 35 percent of homeowners plan to redo their kitchen, while 32 percent plan to rehab their bathroom, according to the survey.

With three showrooms in Colorado, Kitchens by Wedgewood designers can guide homeowners through the remodeling process and provide them with the latest trends in design, layout, cabinets, and accessories.

As a kitchen and bathroom designer, my goal is to give my clients personalized service that incorporates individual style with a well-layed out configuration while remaining organized to maximize the use of the space," said Erin Sweenie, sales representative for Kitchens by Wedgewood. "I want my customers to love how their kitchen, bathroom, or any room we remodel works as well as how it looks.

Homeowners are determined to land a good deal and will do the footwork to find one in the current recession-altered market. But above all, homeowners want value. They want more for less; theyre driven by practicality; and they seek designs and products that will serve their needs for years to come.

The key is transitional design that leans toward contemporary style while keeping its roots firmly planted in traditional appeal. Cabinet trends for both kitchen and bathroom remodels are moving towards flat or simple raised panels with clean lines that are painted white or a variety of dark woods. Consumers also want unique materials, such as reclaimed wood and clean metals.

Kitchens by Wedgewood builds handcrafted, custom Wedgewood cabinets for any room in the home and carries a full range of top-quality cabinets by leading national brands such as Crystal, Medallion, Shiloh, Ultracraft and Merillat cabinetry. For more information and a free consultation, please visit any of their three showroom locations.

About Kitchens by Wedgewood

Kitchens by Wedgewood simplifies the remodeling process with its experienced designers and three inspiring showrooms in Denver, Englewood and Louisville, Colorado. Kitchens by Wedgewoods designers use their product knowledge, design expertise and project management experience along with detailed computer-aided design to guide homeowners through the process, from the first meeting to complete installation.

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Kitchens by Wedgewood Tracks Recession Remodeling Trends

Somerville, NJ (PRWEB) October 01, 2012

Somerville Aluminum has been remodeling homes throughout New Jersey for over sixty years. The remodeling company of choice for generations of homeowners, Somerville Aluminum has grown on the foundation that total customer satisfaction is the primary focus that drives success. To that end, Somerville Aluminum recently launched an infomercial that speaks about why the customer experience is so important to the team at Somerville Aluminum and what homeowners can expect when working with them.

The customer experience starts when we first pick up the phone, states Gary Shiman, co-owner of Somerville Aluminum. Most clients are overwhelmed at the beginning of a remodeling project. Our team and process will ease homeowners anxiety. We walk our customers through the entire process from start to finish.

Shiman, along with brother-in-law and fellow co-owner, David Gropper, navigate viewers through the importance of offering value, respect, dedication and a reliable timetable when working with their customers.

The infomercial introduces viewers to some very passionate testimonials by Somerville Aluminum customers who explain how Somerville Aluminum has gone beyond their expectations with their honesty, reliability and craftsmanship.

Somerville Aluminum started as a storm window company. Their dedication to their customers and their employees while keeping the same message across the board for so many years has enabled them to grow and sustain longevity. They note that while their products and processes have changed over the years, their core values and commitment to customers have not.

Comcast subscribers can view the infomercial on the Home and Garden Channel, 888; while Cablevision customers can view it on channels 603 and 609.

A new Kitchen and Bath Designer joins the team.

Somerville Aluminum has added a new kitchen and bath designer to their staff. Andrea Macri, a NCIDQ licensed and trained interior designer will be available to help customers navigate through the many options and selections necessary when undertaking a home remodeling project. Andrea brings a wealth of design knowledge and expertise gained while designing hotels, resorts, restaurants and spas, as well as kitchens and baths all over New Jersey. Once the go-to interior designer for the Marriott Corporation, Somerville Aluminum is eager for Andrea to lend her touch to customers, while providing them with a level of trust and comfort important for the overall experience.

Go with the Pro: For over 60 years, Somerville Aluminum has been a fixture on Main Street in downtown Somerville, NJ. With customer satisfaction as their focus, Somerville Aluminum is the areas largest full service home remodeling company and has built a reputation for reliability, expertise and trust with their core family values lacing through three generations of service to Central Jersey homeowners. The certified staff and design team practices and promotes a green home and way of life, are lead certified, and partners only with vendors providing the same exceptional quality and service their customers have come to expect. Recently named Best of the Best in Central Jersey, Brothers-in-law Gary Shiman and David Gropper approach each day and each job with their customers as their number one priority and strive to assure them that their home is in good hands.

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NJ Remodeling Contractor Somerville Aluminum Debuts Infomercial and Introduces New Kitchen and Bath Designer

CINCINNATI - If youre thinking about some new additions to your house this fall, the 25th annual Greater Cincinnati Kitchen, Bath and Remodeling Show is sure to offer items and inspiration for your home.

The event, which kicks off Friday and goes through Sunday, is at the Duke Energy Convention Center.

More than 120 companies will exhibit the latest trends and products for the home. More companies have jumped on board for 2012 than any other show in its 25-year history.

The show will also host several free seminars by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), Ohio Valley Chapter. Seminar topics will range from flooring trends to maintaining heating and cooling systems.

This will be a great opportunity for local, regional and national brands to showcase their products and amazing talent," said Vicki Hart, producer of the Greater Cincinnati Kitchen, Bath and Remodeling Show.

This year the Kitchen, Bath and Remodeling Show is trying something new. The exhibit will feature Garage Wars. Four companies that specialize in garage enhancement, storage and more will set up large garage facades showcasing their best work. Each day, the first 50 people who vote on their favorite garage will be admitted to the show for free. The winning company will be featured in a future Cincinnati Magazine spread.

Show dates and times are from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Admission for adults is $8. Adults can save $3 on admission by buying a ticket at Cincinnati-area Kroger stores. Children (ages 13 and under) are free when accompanied by a paying adult.

For more information about the Greater Cincinnati Kitchen, Bath & Remodeling Show, visit http://cincinnatikitchenbathshow.com .

Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Kitchen, Bath & Remodeling Show in area